The arts are a part of daily life in Hong Kong, but this time of year is when the love of the arts there becomes a full-on celebration. Hong Kong Arts Month is back with a series of exhibitions, workshops and performances across a city that has long been the center of culture and creativity. Here are five ways you can get involved.
Check out the biggest contemporary art fair in the world
One of the world’s leading art fairs, Art Basel returns to Hong Kong in 2018 with 248 galleries from 32 countries setting up shop at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Half of these galleries are based in Asia or the Asia-Pacific region—a fitting line-up for a place where east-meets-west has been a way of life for generations. First-time exhibitors this year include New York’s JTT, Shanghai’s Don Gallery, Mumbai’s Tarq and Tehran’s Dastan’s Basement. Mar 29-31
Then dive into another art fair with an even stronger focus on Asian art
Marking its fourth edition this year, Art Central will bring a hundred galleries from around the world together at Central Harbourfront. This is an art fair that highlights the works of new artists, together with more established names, with 75 percent of its partner galleries hailing from the Asia-Pacific region: Bangkok, Beijing, Busan, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, New Delhi, Shanghai, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo and, of course, Hong Kong are all represented alongside galleries from everywhere between Madrid and Melbourne. Mar 27-31
Discover Sham Shui Po
Artist Jonathan Jay Lee, who lives and works in Sham Shui Po, describes his neighbourhood as a “true and raw slice of Hong Kong”. Walking through its street markets and dining at its cha chaan teng eateries, it’s easy to forget that the gleaming skyscrapers of Kowloon and Central are only a few minutes away. Hong Kong Arts Month gives you the ideal opportunity to explore this part of the city through “shutter art”—nostalgic and meaningful works by local artists painted on the shutters of Sham Shui Po’s time-honored businesses. You can download an augmented reality app and visit at your own leisure, or join an hour-long guided tour on Mar 31, Apr 8 and Apr 15. Daily
Get up close with mesmerizing sculptures with Hong Kong’s skyline as a backdrop
How do you enhance a cityscape that is already one of the most iconic in the world? Just add art. Harbour Arts Sculpture Park brings museum-quality sculptures from some of the world’s greatest contemporary artists to Tamar Park and places them against Hong Kong’s skyline. Among the artists featured are Tracey Emin, Jenny Holzer and Yayoi Kusama. Until Apr 11
See artists at work in their studios
Fo Tan is an industrial area that has evolved in recent years to become another of Hong Kong’s key arts precincts. At work in this New Territories neighborhood is a cast of potters, painters, sculptors, calligraphers, illustrators and filmmakers, and you’ll get to see them in action at Fo Tan Open Studio. Whether you’re new to art or a seasoned art scene veteran, you’ll be welcomed by Fo Tan’s artists. Mar 31
Want more reasons to visit? Check out this video on the A to Z of Hong Kong Arts:
Hong Kong Arts Month is on now until Mar 31 (with some events taking place in April). For more information and a full list of events, head to the Discover Hong Kong website.
